Interesting Animals to Look Out For in Tennessee

Animals often have an area they are native to. When hiking around in the Smoky Mountains, some Tennessee animals you should watch out for.

Some of these animals appear to be cute and interesting while others tend to look more dangerous. Of course, if you encounter any of these creatures, you need to view them only from a distance and not engage them at all.

Bobcats

These cats are relatively small, with growth only to three feet in length and a weight of twenty pounds, but if you have one attacking you, that small size isn’t going to matter. These cats might look cute and cuddly, but bobcats can kill a small deer, which means you need to view them from a distance. Thankfully, these animals are nocturnal, which means your chances of seeing one are minimal.

Black Widow Spiders

Large black spiders with a distinctive red or orange hourglass shape on the body should be avoided, these are Black Widow Spiders. This is easily one of the most common Tennessee animals you should avoid. If you are bitten by one of these spiders you need to head to the hospital or get ready for an extremely unpleasant couple of days. These spiders aren’t likely to kill a person, but they can make you very sick.

Eastern Cougars

The Eastern Cougar is the only native mountain lion to the Smoky Mountain area. This animal is large, brown, or gray, and can weigh up to 140 pounds, and be about seven feet long. These cats are pretty shy but have been known to kill humans, not many, but they do. Statistically, they have killed 21 people in 118 years, which means your danger level is minimal, but if you see one, you’ll want to keep your distance.

Black Bears

One of the most common activities in the Smoky Mountain area is to go bear spotting looking for Black Bears. While these bears seem tame enough from afar, you don’t want to venture into their territory or get too close. This is one of the Tennessee animals that is a “look but don’t touch” type of animal. These bears can grow up to seven feet tall and weigh over 700 pounds.

Red Foxes

These gorgeous foxes can make some of the most amazing photos when you catch them in the wild, but you don’t want to get too close to them. They grow to be about the size of a medium-sized dog and have a gorgeous rust color to them. They normally feed on the small game but have been known to eat human food, which means you should keep your food secure and in an area, they can’t get to.

Elk

You might be surprised to find Elk among the list of Tennessee animals, but a reintroduction program that took place in 2001 brought Elk back to this area. Unfortunately, these animals are able to populate at will because there aren’t any natural predators to this large mammal. Related to deer, you don’t want to see an Elk charging at you, but you could get some incredible pictures when they are drinking from a stream.

Coyotes

Coyotes seem to be finding their way to many parts of the United States and are certainly in the Smoky Mountain area. These animals look like medium-sized dogs but have around and bushy tails. They can weigh between 45 and 60 pounds and are about five feet in length. Coyotes are extremely agile and fast which puts you and your dog in danger when walking. Keep an eye out for them when you’re hiking in this area.

Wild Boars

These large animals look like common pigs and are related to them, but they are dangerous and should be avoided. While not native to America, Wild Boars are one of the Tennessee animals you would rather not come across during a hike. These boars are large and nocturnal and feed on nuts, berries, insects, and small mammals. They could attack you if they feel you are dangerous to them, stay calm if you encounter one, in hopes it will go away.

Copperhead Snakes

One of the four venomous snakes in North America, the Copperhead is native to the Smoky Mountains. They are often difficult to identify because their coloring resembles the forest floor. Try to stay on the walking paths when hiking and avoid these snakes. These snakes have bitten more people than any other venomous snake in the U.S. and will strike only when threatened.